Hay rake and buncher



Sept` 18, 1928. 1,684,573

J. BOYD A I HAY RAKE AND BUNGHER Filed oct. 8, 1924 f5 2 sheets-Sheet 2lul Joy/v Ban/17.

` INVEVTOR. i

Patented Sept. "i8, 1928.

JOHN BOYD, OF BYRON, CALIFGRNIA.

l HAY iai-inn Aren nunonnis.

Applcatoniiled October vS, 1924. Serial No. 742,381.k

My invention is an improved hay rake and buneher.

The object ot lmy invention is to provide a machine which will rake thehay` and deposit it in bunches at one side ot the swath-e or. windrowwhich is being raked.

My hay rake and buncher has a rake extending across the rearward end anda conveyor belt elevates the hay from the rake to a cross conveyor. Thiselevating belt droops slightly in front of the rake and by means ot thecross bars, tines or the like on the belt-7 carries hay into the rake.From the cross conveyor the hay is dropped in an elevating conveyor andcarried to a hopper in which it is deposited until a suticient amount isaccumulated, when the bottom is tripped and the hay dumped in a heap.

In the annexed drawing in which my inven' tion is illustrated,

Figure 1 is a plan view ot `my machine.

Figure 2 is a front elevation ot the same, with paits broken away toshow the interior construction.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken 0n line 3-8 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4 4 ot Figure 2.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, my machine comprises a pairof substantially triangular end trames 1, 1 in which an axle 2 isjournaled and upon which axle a pair ot supporting wheels 3, 3 aremounted. A pair ot pivoted wheels 4, 4 support the forward en d ot mymachine and are mounted on transverse traine members 5. A rake 6 ismounted at the roar end of the machine and supported trom the tramemembers 1. rIhe Y the tines oi' the rake are of the usual curved shape,

making the forward` side of the rake concave.

An endless belt conveyor 7` having cross bars or other projections 29travels upwardly at an angle on what would correspond to the hypotenuseot' the triangular trame members 1. rfhis conveyor extends over rollers8 and at the bottoni and toprespectively and is driven by chains 10, 10which extend over sprocket wheels mounted on the axle 2 and upper roller9. i hood 33 is positioned at the top oit conveyor 7 and extendsdownwardly across the front oi the machine. The lower reach ot conveyor7 is supported by guides 30 which receive the ends otv cross bars 29sliding relation. Guides 30 terminate at some distance trom roller 8,and

the belt has suflicient excess length to permit it to droop, at itslower end 31, to an approximately horizontal position. The purpose ofvthis arrangement is to enable the cross bars yor other projections onthe belt 7 to more effectively engage the hay and push it into the rakeG. This causes a positive leed ot the hay to the rake and by causing abunching et the hay in the rake, clears the ground thoroughly. T heconveyor 7 moves upwardly to wards the forward end ofthe machine anddeposits the hay upon a transverse conveyor 11, which is positioned atthe forward end of the machine and supported upon the transverse tramemembers 5. This conveyor travels over rollers 12 and 13 respectivelywhich are journaled in the trame.

A second conveyor 14 in alignment with the conveyor 11 extends beyondthe side of the machine and is inclined upwardly terminating above ahopper 15. The conveyor 14 is supported by an auxiliary trame 16 securedto the main traine 1 and extends over rollers 17 and 18. rEhe conveyors11 and 14 are driven by a chain 19 which extends over sprocket wheelskeyed to rollers 12 and 18 respectively, and a sprocket wheel keyed toshatt 20. Shaft 2O is journaled in the main traine and is driven by twobevel gears 21 keyed to said shaft and to axle 2 respectively.

The hopper 15 is supported on a trame 22 extending :trom the trame 1 andconsists ot a box-like structure openk at the rear. The bottom 23thereof. istiltable about a pivot-rod 24. The tilting of the bottom isaccomplished through a cable 25 secured to said bottom and extending toa control handle 26 which is po-`V sitioned on the front ot the machineadjacent the seat 27.v i

,A suitable spring closure 28 is provided for the bottom23 so that whenthe handle 26 is released the bottom will automatically return to itsnormal closed position. The opreration ot the machine consists in rakingthe hay with the rake 6 from which it is conveyed upwardly on theconveyor 7, which in turn deposits it upon the transverse conveyors 11and 14 which deposit it in the hopper 15 from which it is dumped atintervals upon the ground.

Having described my invention, 1 claim:

1; A device of the class described, comprising a, rake having its`forward side concave, an inclined endless conveyor extendinginto theforward side ot said rake, a guide inember for supporting the lowerreach ot said conveyor, said guide member extending from adjacent theupper end of the conveyor and terminating at a point intermediatetheends thereof, a portion of the lower reach ad-y 5 jacent said rake beingthereby left unsupported to allow it to droop to a substantiallyhorizontal position, to enable the conveyer to more effectively feedmaterial into the rake. 2. A device of the class described, com- 10prising a rake havingits :forward side con- 4cave, an inclined endlessconveyor mounted on rollers and extending into the forward side of saidrake, said conveyor being loose on its rollers, and supporting means forthe lower reach of said conveyor, said supporting means terminatingata.substantial distance from the lower roller to permit a portion of saidlower reach adjacent said rake to droop to a substantially horizontalposition to enable it to force material into the rake.

In testimony whereof I aiix my signature.

`JOHN BOYD.

